Birmingham : General Information

The vast metropolis of Birmingham is England’s second largest city and capital of the West Midlands. The city grew off the back of the industrial revolution and still bears signs of an over industrial past. Post-industrial Birmingham has seen the city developing into the capital convention city of the country, hosting 80 per cent of all exhibitions in the UK.

Despite suffering heavy bombardment by the Nazi Luftwaffe during WWII, some architectural gems still exist, such as St Philips Cathedral. Regardless of its dull reputation given its industrial background, ‘Brummies’ have invested time and effort into modernising and beautifying the city with art museums and a jewellery quarter displaying a vast array of contemporary pieces.

Dining and nightlife are popular activities in Birmingham with ethnic food being the main draw; a large Indian community has provided spice to the usual, fairly bland English menu. The large population of over 1,000,000 plus three universities guarantees a lively evening scene.

While Birmingham isn’t at the top of most people’s list of tourist destinations, it is the gateway to the rest of the north of England and serves as a good bridge for the culture differences between northern and southern England.

Transport around the city is easy given the extensive bus routes, and the city centre can be navigated comfortably on foot. Taxis and night buses are plentiful and can get you home in the small hours. Like most of the UK, many attractions are closed on Sundays.